The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) plans to establish a paramilitary unit to secure its vast mining sites, the General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM) announced on Monday. The unit, dubbed the “mining guard,” will be funded by investments from the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

The IGM described the plan as creating a “paramilitary special unit intended to secure the entire mineral exploitation chain,” including mining sites and transport routes. By end of 2028, over 20,000 guards are to be deployed across 22 mining provinces, with the first contingent expected in December 2025.

President Felix Tshisekedi aims to “clean up the entire mining sector, by eliminating practices that run counter to good governance, transparency and the traceability of minerals,” said Inspector General of Mines Rafael Kabengele.

The $100 million program is funded through partnerships with the US and UAE. The DRC produces about 70% of the world’s cobalt, crucial for electric vehicle batteries and defense technology, and holds rich deposits of copper, coltan, and lithium.

Chinese mining firms dominate the sector, but the US is pushing to reduce that dominance. The mineral wealth also fuels rebel group activity in the troubled east. The DRC and Rwanda signed a December accord aimed at ending the conflict, which includes an economic component to supply strategic minerals for US interests.

Source: www.aljazeera.com